Opportunity Guide I Summer, Enrichment & Activities Guide

Developing as a writer requires writing a lot. There are opportunities available to encourage and motivate young writers and help them develop their craft.  If writing poems, plays and stories excites your child, encourage her submit her writing for publication in a school or special interest magazine. There are more than a few online literary and writing magazines that publish writing by and for children and teens.

For a child that likes competitions, many historical organizations and various nonprofits (e.g., environmental groups) sponsor annual themed writing contests for children in various age/grade categories. For an older child who wants to improve and enhance her skills, there are specialized summer writing workshops and intensives that offer focused concentrations (e.g., science fiction, screenwriting, novel writing) and provide an opportunity for peer review.



  1. Founded in 2002 by internationally acclaimed author Dave Eggers and award-winning educator Nínive Calegari, 826 Valencia inspired a network of creative writing and tutoring centers now eight cities… Read more
  2. The Ada Long Creative Writing Workshop is a 3-week workshop that offers a rare opportunity for high school students to learn from published authors. Every day, students will work closely with… Read more
  3. Alfred University welcomes high school students to our beautiful campus each year to take part in this popular co-ed, overnight summer camp. The emphasis is on having fun and enjoying our beautiful… Read more
  4. Each guest will spend two to three days at the workshop. We’re looking for enthusiastic, talented young writers who have a strong interest in science fiction, fantasy, and/or horror. Students from… Read more
  5. Try out college life and take college-level courses in special programs for high school students. High school students with a B or better grade point average may enroll as non-degree students in… Read more
  6. Through on-site arts education programs, outreach to schools and community-based partnerships, Appel Farm provides people of all ages, cultures and economic backgrounds with a supportive, cooperative… Read more
  7. Summer Cadets learn to focus on achievement as they work to overcome physical and mental team challenges while developing self-confidence as leaders and contributing team members. Specifically… Read more
  8. Each year 84 academically motivated students are chosen to participate in the workshop at Simon’s Rock. Unlike more traditional workshops in creative writing, the Young Writers Workshop focuses on… Read more
  9. Berkeley Pre-College Scholars: Summer Residential Program This program offers you the opportunity to live on-campus and be a part of a community of high school students enjoying their summer at… Read more
  10. Berklee summer programs will give you a taste of Berklee—the preeminent institute of contemporary music and the performing arts—on the stage, in the studio, and in the classroom. With programs in… Read more
  11. Since 2008, Between the Lines (BTL) has hosted young writers at the University of Iowa for a cultural exchange program that focuses on the art and craft of creative writing. Participants, aged 15-18… Read more
  12. Open to rising sophomores, juniors and seniors, these are short (two and three-week long) non-credit courses that provide students the opportunity to “try out" the full experience of living and… Read more
  13. For two weeks, experience life on a college campus and take on new academic challenges in our residential summer program for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Summer Challenge… Read more
  14. At BIMA you'll be part of a creative community brimming with artistic discovery and Jewish experiences. Join talented world-class arts faculty and talented peers for a month in the summer to pursue… Read more
  15. The Concord Review at Brandeis trains high school students to write high-caliber, in-depth history research papers over two or three weeks. Students attend interactive group classes, have frequent… Read more
  16. Brandeis Summer School offers advanced high school students the opportunity to experience college courses with some restrictions Students who have completed their Junior year of High School can test… Read more
  17. Pre-College Online courses at Brown are rigorous, active learning experiences, designed and led by innovative and dedicated Brown instructors. Explore challenging subjects through coursework designed… Read more
  18. The Brown University Pre-Baccalaureate Program is a highly selective program for college-bound students. Get a head start on college credit, explore fields of study that may become your major, and… Read more
  19. The Brown University Pre-Baccalaureate Program is a highly selective program for college-bound students. Get a head start on college credit, explore fields of study that may become your major, and… Read more
  20. Each summer, serious students choose Summer@Brown to prepare for college success, and meet the challenges of Ivy League academics. Living and learning on Brown’s magnificent campus, students… Read more
  21. This summer, approximately 250 high school students -- makers, designers, DIYers, and original thinkers from all over the Bay Area and beyond will convene on CCA's Oakland campus and engage in an… Read more
  22. The California State Summer School for the Arts is a rigorous, preprofessional, month-long training program in the visual and performing arts, creative writing, animation and film for talented… Read more
  23. Pre-College Scholars Program High school students wishing to take regular university summer classes may apply to enroll through the Pre-College Scholars program. The Pre-College Scholars Program at… Read more
  24. Residential summer camp programs in: academic enrichment, English language, immersion geometry, theater arts, documentary filmmaking, math, science, community service, oceanography, and writing.… Read more
  25. Residential summer camp programs in: academic enrichment, English language, Enviro-tech for girls, theater arts, writing, invention and design labs filmmaking, math, science, community service,… Read more
  26. Columbia University offers several summer programs for high school students, both in its home city of New York City, but also in foreign countries as well. For students that will be in New York, they… Read more
  27. TCR Summer Programs are intensive workshops in history, research, and writing that offer high school students an advisory structure in which to work on historical research projects on topics of their… Read more
  28. The Cooper Union Summer Art Intensive helps high school students prepare a portfolio for college applications, worthy of top undergraduate programs. Participants choose a two-day studio concentration… Read more
  29. The Cornell University Summer Session traces its roots to summer courses in geology, zoology, and entomology that were presented in the late 1870s. The University offered these courses in the summer… Read more
  30. The Reynolds Young Writers Workshop at Denison is an energizing 8-day program for motivated high school students (rising juniors and seniors) who love to write. For over 20 years, the Reynolds… Read more
  31. Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, provides one of the oldest and most complete pre-college programs for gifted children in the state of Missouri. Two residential programs, Summerscape and… Read more
  32. The Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) is a nonprofit organization that has served over 2.8 million academically talented students in grades four through twelve since 1980. Each… Read more
  33. Duke Youth Programs is a part of Duke University Continuing Studies and has provided summer academic enrichment for academically motivated youth for over 35 years. Each summer approximately 650 youth… Read more
  34. Why do young people choose Young Writers’ Camp? It’s not like school: Imagine a place where learning and fun are the same. It’s a stress-free, nonjudgmental, open environment. It gives campers… Read more
  35. Pre-College offers challenging one-, three- and five-week summer programs for high school students. Programs are intensive, fun, and designed to teach students competitive, practical skills in one… Read more
  36. This is a non-credit summer program with both residential and day students. The Emory Pre-College Program (noncredit) offers students an opportunity to preview the best of college life: from… Read more
  37. EXPLO summer programs allows students to investigate subjects they’re not likely to encounter during the school year. Our courses aren’t for credit and are ungraded. They encourage students to step… Read more
  38. Transform your dreams, ideas, and stories into organized, compelling, creative written works through Georgetown's Creative Writing Institute. Led by Georgetown instructors and renowned literary… Read more
  39. Imagine studying at Harvard for seven weeks, fully immersed in the college experience. Whether you choose to live on campus, commute, or take courses online, you’ll have the opportunity to explore… Read more
  40. Summer courses for middle and high school students located on the Hofstra campus. Camp programs may include: journalism, foreign languages, sports broadcasting, math, diversity and writing.
  41. In a beautiful natural setting reminiscent of a traditional summer camp, the Idyllwild Arts Summer Program provides high caliber arts instruction and memorable arts immersion workshops to a diverse… Read more
  42. Interlochen was founded in 1928 and is located in beautiful northwest lower Michigan. Each year, thousands of artists and arts patrons come to Interlochen to experience world-class educational and… Read more
  43. The Ithaca Writers Institute, a noncredit summer program for high school students, offers two weeks of intensive writing workshops on the campus of Ithaca College in the Finger Lakes region of… Read more
  44. Jackson Hole Writers is once again partnering with the Teton County Library to offer writing sessions for middle-graders (10-13), though older students are always welcome to attend. A young open… Read more
  45. Our summer program for high school students (ages 15 to 18) is modeled after St. John’s discussion-based, interdisciplinary method of teaching the great books. A hands-on introduction to college life… Read more
  46. The world leader in gifted education since 1979, Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth is a nonprofit dedicated to identifying and developing the talents of academically advanced pre-college… Read more
  47. Young Writers is an intensive two-week workshop for intellectually curious, motivated high-school students who value writing. Our goal is to help students develop their creative and critical… Read more
  48. A Summer, Residential Creative Writing Program for High School Students High school students can join a supportive community of young creative writers in our residential summer program on the… Read more
  49. In 2005, Classical archaeologists Regan & Amy Barr founded The Lukeion Project. Now with a much larger teaching faculty, we offer 6 years of Classical Latin & 7 years of Greek, Classical… Read more
  50. Maine Media Workshops + College is recognized as one of the world’s leading media arts education centers for filmmaking, photography, writing, and book arts & design. Our MFA program was recently… Read more